"They are all educated nations and should not follow India" : Shahid Afridi

[OMB]

'We were getting threats from India but still we went there': Afridi says 'educated nations' should not follow India

Former captain Shahid Afridi has made a bold statement saying that just because one country is after Pakistan, other 'educated nations' should not make the same mistake.

Former captain Shahid Afridi is disappointed at New Zealand and England pulling out of their respective tours of Pakistan and feels what the BlackCaps have done is 'unforgivable'. New Zealand were scheduled to play limited-overs series in Pakistan, but hours before the first ODI in Rawalpindi on September 17, following reports of a security threat, New Zealand called off their entire tour.

New Zealand's pull out had a ripple effect as just a few days later, the England cricket team opted to boycott their men and women's tour of Pakistan as well. Afridi feels that instead of calling off the entire tour, New Zealand should have looked into the matter as a lot of precaution was being taken by Pakistan to arrange a safe and proper cricket series.

"We all know that there is a huge amount of scrutiny when it comes to arranging tours. Proper investigations are conducted by the security members of the touring nation. The routes are defined and only when the process is completed, that is when the teams are given the green signal to visit the country," Afridi told Cricket Pakistan.

"New Zealand cricketers are loved in Pakistan and for them to do something like this is unforgivable. If there was any potential threat, they should have been shared with the PCB and waited for Pakistan's security forces to assess the situation."

Afridi reacted to reports that an e-mail which prompted New Zealand to call off the tour had originated from India. On Wednesday, Pakistan's information minister Fawad Chaudhry had claimed that the 'e-mail was generated from India through a VPN showing the location of Singapore'. To this, Afridi made a bold statement saying that just because one country is after Pakistan, other 'educated nations' should not make the same mistake.

"If you have to look at the bigger picture then I think we need to take a decision which shows the world that we are also a country and we have our pride. It's ok if one country is behind us but I don't think other countries should also make the same mistake. They are all educated nations and should not follow India," Afridi added.

"Instead, cricket should improve relations. Situation was bad in India. We were getting threats. Our board asked us to go and we went there. Similarly, during Covid-19, the situation that there was in England, the cricket went on. If you trust false e-mails and cancel tours then I believe you are offering them fodder to win. This is not the right way."

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/we-were-getting-threats-from-india-but-still-we-went-ahead-shahid-afridi-says-educated-nations-shouldn-t-follow-india-101632639618497.html

 

[fitCricFan]

There are two key variables that Afridi is ignoring in his own statement.

1. Our board asked us to go and we went there. - PCB asked our team to go and it did. Players would have been within their rights to refuse and I am sure the board would have found replacements. For the Kiwis, it was their board that asked the team to withdraw and the team complied.

2. They are all educated nations and should not follow India The email threat as claimed by the board and the ministers was determined to be a hoax even before the Kiwi's landed n Pakistan. That was never an issue. It is really preposterous to assume that you could wreck havoc on significant events (sports or otherwise) using an email. BCCI and the Indian Govt seems to be an easy way out for a lot of our own failures. It is also a fact that neither any details on that email nor the specific threat that caused the Kiwis to pull out is yet to be known.

Last of all we toured India in 2005/2006. The GeoPolitical landscape was much better at the time even with the obvious right wing political players on both sides doing what they do. Afghanistan, despite the war wasn't deemed a threat due to the presence of Americans.

The withdrawal of both teams has definitely caused an intense heartburn, particularly the England team who were only supposed to be in Pakistan for a 3-4 days. Unless Afridi is privy to details on the nature of the threat and has specific information about its origin, he is just playing to the emotions of the fans. Alluding to an Indian conspiracy has always been an easy way out for our Politicians and Afridi is no different.

 

[JattMaula]

Lala spitting facts.

 

[MenInG]

Shahid Afridi is obviously angry about the whole situation.

 

[OMB]

Afridi like most of us have every right to be angry. However he is mistakenly connecting a proven hoax call as the reason why other educated countries should not follow India.

His reasoning that Pakistan visited in-spite of threats may be true but also to remember that Pakistan visited NZ and England during Mosque and Covid situation. Similarly, India continues to tour abroad and hold cricketing matches within India and UAE in spite of Covid.

The threshold of India and Pakistan population in taking risks is high. Some in our population are not averse to taking mindless risks in order to earn their bread. and worse are our youth who indulge in meaningless pursuits such as dangerous selfies, zoo-jumping in wild animals enclosures, train surfing, jay walking, unregulated adventure sports etc.

New Zealand, Australia and England have a different perception towards risks. Just because this may be normal for us, doesn't mean it is normal for them.
I am not saying that people in these countries never take risks but they do in full knowledge of what is going to happen to them and will do so if they are in control of it. There are exceptions always but but very few and you can find them travelling solo in Himalayan ranges. Even these are always younger people and their search for peace or adventure (or pure strain of drugs) always over rules their instinct for self preservation.

Coming to the crux of it, right or wrong, my point is that these players and their families are concerned and it is a very normal thing for them. Some adventurous souls will still travel but most will avoid.

 

[Thanos]

Seems like Afridi preparing for career in politics.

 

[Real_Steel]

If i am getting this right, Afridi seems to be saying "educated countries shouldnt follow India in degrading Pak" . India's literacy rate is ~75% and ever improving. Indians hold eminent positions in the world. India seems to be educated enough. I am not sure who is the "uneducated one" here.

 

[Shafi]

Two Facts:::
1. Just because they speak in English (NZ/Eng) doesn't mean they are educated.
2. Many educated people are far more dishonest then un-educated people i.e education doesn't change people's moral to distinguish between right or wrong.

 

[drubwrubnat]

If i am getting this right, Afridi seems to be saying "educated countries shouldnt follow India in degrading Pak" . India's literacy rate is ~75% and ever improving. Indians hold eminent positions in the world. India seems to be educated enough. I am not sure who is the "uneducated one" here.

I think there was a video about a bihar topper in political sciences, who, when later interviewed, said that political science is something to do with cooking. Now, im scratching my head to find out what deep insight that person had, which im missing to this day. Sunday they spell as sunde. Wednesday is a different matter.

You will see a lot of first rankers fade away compared to the backbenchers, in any alumni meet.

In my personal view, the word education must be replaced with another very underrated word - reason.
When school children ask “why” something happens, and try to find answers for the why, only then will there be education.

 

[ravisurya]

I think there was a video about a bihar topper in political sciences, who, when later interviewed, said that political science is something to do with cooking. Now, im scratching my head to find out what deep insight that person had, which im missing to this day. Sunday they spell as sunde. Wednesday is a different matter.

You will see a lot of first rankers fade away compared to the backbenchers, in any alumni meet.

In my personal view, the word education must be replaced with another very underrated word - reason.
When school children ask “why” something happens, and try to find answers for the why, only then will there be education.

Their was guy from Okara who claimed to be the CEO of Microsoft and Pakistan media had given him a lot of coverage. One off cases can never be used to generalize.

 

[OMB]

I think there was a video about a bihar topper in political sciences, who, when later interviewed, said that political science is something to do with cooking. Now, im scratching my head to find out what deep insight that person had, which im missing to this day. Sunday they spell as sunde. Wednesday is a different matter.

You will see a lot of first rankers fade away compared to the backbenchers, in any alumni meet.

In my personal view, the word education must be replaced with another very underrated word - reason.
When school children ask “why” something happens, and try to find answers for the why, only then will there be education.

yes I agree about the education system in general. It is undergoing an overhaul lately so expect more vocational subjects being taught.
=

 

[Cricfan4eva]

If i am getting this right, Afridi seems to be saying "educated countries shouldnt follow India in degrading Pak" . India's literacy rate is ~75% and ever improving. Indians hold eminent positions in the world. India seems to be educated enough. I am not sure who is the "uneducated one" here.

Afridi is one ex-cricketer who you shouldn't take seriously, at all. I mean the guy tampered the cricket ball by biting it like an apple, in front of cameras for crying out loud.

Also, it is usual for some troll-ex-cricketers on both side of the borders to drag each other when the conflict doesn't even concern either side. Afridi, and in this case PCB too have tried to pluck the low hanging fruit. Blame the big bad BCCI and India. No one outside of Pakistan buys this theory. If it helps them deal with their frustration, just let them have it.

 

[PakLFC]

They go where the money is. India and the BCCI have it.

 

[Firebat]

Never about right and wrong, it's about money, convenience and perception.

 

[Giannis]

By educated he's obviously talking about the culture and mindset. You don't need a degree and a perfect GPA to be "educated", education in this context is more about your upbringing.

 

[NishanKonar]

How much education has Shahid afridi got ?

Not much I suspect going by his past comments on social issues

 

[OMB]

By educated he's obviously talking about the culture and mindset. You don't need a degree and a perfect GPA to be "educated", education in this context is more about your upbringing.

No, I think he used Educated countries as a euphemism for SENA

 

[Giannis]

No, I think he used Educated countries as a euphemism for SENA

and that's his point, they're more educated nations in terms of culture and mindsets

 

[Giannis]

How much education has Shahid afridi got ?

Not much I suspect going by his past comments on social issues

Pro athletes don't usually have much of an education beyond high school and they don't need to, Afridi is well spoken and well traveled and is deeply connected to his heritage so I'd say he's an educated man.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

By educated, he meant sensible, wise and having a good caliber n class.

 

[Mamoon]

Afridi crying as usual. Nothing new.

 

[JattMaula]

and that's his point, they're more educated nations in terms of culture and mindsets

Lala is clearly a fan of western culture and education.

 

[OMB]

By educated, he meant sensible, wise and having a good caliber n class.

and this is everything the subcontinent never is. We have alot to learn about how to project ourselves as that (never mind what the reality is)

 

[shamaan]

Lala is clearly a fan of western culture and education.

If he was a fan of western culture his family would have been a fan of the culture.